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Calgary Transit Fantasy Maps

Is that a common method for maintenance in more urban contexts? I would think that would be a lot of effort to put a train on a truck.
 
Urban_Views said:
Is that a common method for maintenance in more urban contexts? I would think that would be a lot of effort to put a train on a truck.
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It is a bit of effort. Trains just don't require much maintenance. A tail track is all you really need (might be different math in a cold climate, wanting to wash salt off each day)

Portland did it before the system expanded in 2012 and then scale made sense versus transferring via truck. Source: remembering a picture on an article talking about how it is good to do things cheaply.
 
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Urban_Views said:
I often think a Streetcar would be ideally used to connect Westbrook and Stampede Station.

Pros:
Runs at the surface in the centre lanes (scope creep to upgraded sidewalks on 17)
Brings a looped connection to the beltline and 17th ave
Provides an additional point to leave Stampede grounds for events

Cons:
Runs at the surface in the centre lanes (reduced street parking)
Potential to turn 17th into 7th ave of the south

I would put the maintenance facility where 17 connects to Crowchild on the east side. By removing access, it would improve flow on Crowchild and give more flexibility on how to use the site. Im thinking the west end termines at westbrook or has the option to turn south to 37th. That would be a later phase...

Happy to hear what others think on this.


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Not the first time somebody has had this idea ;)
1746210413710.png
 
Could you share what plan that image is from? I'd be curious to see any detailed analysis completed for it.

Interesting that the city's version has a loop at Stampe Station.
 
darwink said:
It is a bit of effort. Trains just don't require much maintenance. A tail track is all you really need (might be different math in a cold climate, wanting to wash salt off each day)

Portland did it before the system expanded in 2012 and then scale made sense versus transferring via truck. Source: remembering a picture on an article talking about how it is good to do things cheaply.
Click to expand...
Trains need maintenance every single night. Cleaning and inspection is light maintenance, but it is still maintenance and I can't imagine people would be thrilled if every single night at 3AM a cleaning crew was hosing down a train outside their window while lights bright enough for inspectors were being shone on the train. Not to mention minor repairs and preventative maintenance that happen on a fairly frequent basis (as well as an irregular one -- vandalized seats need to be fixed, for instance.) The Ottawa LRT contract calls for a deep cleaning and maintenance check every 21 days, for instance. And the two options for this are either all the work is done between midnight and 5 AM, or there is a place to park a train out of the way so it can be worked on -- in which case, put a building around it.

Portland's streetcars did get heavy maintenance in their existing LRT facility before the 2012 maintenance facility was built; they could be driven there directly on MAX tracks (although it was a pain to do it in the middle of the night). They also had a 7800 sq ft maintenance facility from when the line opened, per Wikipedia. You can even see a streetcar in it in the 2007 Streetview. The 2012 facility is larger and can handle heavier maintenance like wheel truing.
 
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